Dark matter and allocation of energy density

Cosmology (Winter, 2013)

Lecture Playlist

  1. The expanding (Newtonian) universe

  2. Matter and radiation dominated universes

  3. Geometries of space: flat, spherical, hyperbolic

  4. Cosmological thermodynamics

  5. Vacuum energy

  6. Dark matter and allocation of energy density

  7. Temperature history of the universe

  8. Baryogenesis

  9. Inflation

  10. Inhomogeneities and quantum fluctuations

February 18, 2013

Professor Susskind develops the energy density allocation equation, and describes the historical progress of the effort to find the correct values for the terms in this equation.  This analysis combined with observations of the motion of stars and galaxies led cosmologists to postulate the existence of dark matter.  Observations of luminosity and red-shift have led to the correct solution for today's universe - which is dominated by dark energy.

References